Spartan Volleyball Set to Host Loaded York College Invitational

YORK PA - This Friday, the York College Spartan women's volleyball team hosts the Spartan Invitational. Featuring seven teams, the Spartan Invitational will feature some intense action throughout Friday evening and all day Saturday (Full tournament homepage). The tournament will feature Stevenson University, Moravian College, Penn State Abington, Rowan University, Carnegie Mellon University, Farleigh Dickinson University, and the host Spartans.

Stevenson University enters this tournament with a 18-0 record behind a very young but talented team. The Mustangs will look to repeat as the Spartan Invitational Champions in their 2013 campaign. Libero Sam Perillo will be a player to watch with her 5.62 digs per set. Outside hitter Imani Hudson leads the team with 3.6 kills per set and will team with Christine Isenburg to give Mustangs a deadly 1-2 punch at the net. Stevenson will start the tournament at 3 pm on Friday against Rowan University on Court 2 in Charles Wolf Gymnasium.

Moravian College enters this tournament with a 6-8 record. Outside hitter Lauren Hostetler leads the Greyhounds in kills per set with 2.87, and works with libero Kim Groff who has almost 200 digs on the season to anchor the Moravian backcourt. Freshman Taylor Kornman will look to be a force at the net with over 30 blocks on the season. Moravian will start the tournament at 3 pm on Friday against Farleigh Dickinson University on Court 1 in Charles Wolf Gymnasium.

Penn State Abington enters this tournament with a 7-10record. The Nittany Lions will look to sophomore Abby Millan to get the team going with her serves, where she has 42 service aces on the year to go along with her 158 kills on the year. Abington will look for Sam Nelson to put their hitters in the best spot with her 4.1 assists per set. Penn State Abington will start the tournament at 5 pm on Friday against York College on Court 1 in Charles Wolf Gymnasium.

Rowan University enters this tournament at 6-5 on the year. Casey Grass will look to limit opponent services as she averages 5.5 digs per set. Middle hitter Morgan Mende will look to dominate at the net with her over 120 kills and her 6 solo blocks. Rowan will start the tournament at 3 pm on Friday against Stevenson University on Court 2 in Charles Wolf Gymnasium.

Carnegie Mellon University enters this tournament with a 12-3 record. Look for the Tartan squad to rely heavily on its two big hitters Junior Ali Celentano and senior Senna Parsa as they have teamed up for almost 250 kills on the year. Setter Emily Lawliss will be the one who will be putting up the ball for the Tartan hitters with her over 400 assists. Carnegie Mellon will start the tournament at 5 pm on Friday against Farleigh Dickinson University on Court 2 in Charles Wolf Gymnasium.

Farleigh Dickinson University enters this tournament at 10-9 on the year. The Devils will look for top serving from Riley Brewer and Jean Etersque, as they have combined for over 40 service aces. Senior middle hitter Helena Riede will be a player to watch as she comes into the game with almost 200 kills on the year. Farleigh Dickinson will start the tournament at 3 pm on Friday against Moravian College on Court 1 in Charles Wolf Gymnasium.

Lastly, York College enters this tournament with an 11-4 on the year. The Spartan Horde will look to attack opposing backcourts with their trio of outside hitters of freshman Ijeoma Igwe (Windsor Mill, Md. / Seton Keough), junior Katie Huston (Ellicott City, Md. / Mount Hebron), and senior Brittany Hicks (Dover, Pa. / York Catholic), who have combined for almost 350 kills. Looking to feed their impressive attack will be sophomore setter Allie Donahue (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin), who has fed the Spartan frontcourt with an impressive 470 assists in the teams 15 games. York will start the tournament at 5 pm on Friday against Penn State Abington on Court 1 in Charles Wolf Gymnasium.

After a disappointing Spartan Invitational in 2012, where York failed to make the championship game for the first time in seven years, York will look to return to the championship round with a vengeance. Featuring top teams, this Spartan Invitational will be exciting to watch. Fans should make sure to come early for the first matches starting at 3 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.